NationStates

My view of international law in NS is a pretty simple one and I've stuck to it over the years:

International law constitutes, generally, of a set of treaties that you've signed (in the real world, there is a range of treaties actually signed by something like 95% of the world, in NS this is an impossibility), and a range of customs that are not really 'signed' by anyone but are more or less determined by the consensus of the international community.

NS International Law consists, basically, of…

WA resolutions: Mostly apply only to those nations that are in the WA.

Customs: Stuff like 'the nation's maritime boundaries are 12 miles from its borders', which I don't think is consistently applied, and 'pirates and slavers are hostis humani generis. In truth, this is only 'law' to the extent that a large amount of prominent nations are willing to go along with it.

Allanea's position on international law is kind of a mix of arrogance and wisdom where on one hand the'e willing to go in and shoot people and so on for what Allaneans think is right, and on the other hand they're willing to go and act in ways that achieve a consensus around their action.

A lot of stuff that Allanea does would be viewed as objectionable by many people if it was not principally focused on groups that it's difficult to have any sympathy for, and even the world's peace movements are typically all like 'yeah, there shouldn't be all those bombings in a foreign land and stuff, but I don't feel too enthusiastic about standing up for some creepy child traffickers'.

(Is Allanea's interest in this a humanitarian or a selfish one? The answer is: yes.)

Allanea wrote:WA resolutions: Mostly apply only to those nations that are in the WA.

Plus those who actually recognise the existence of the WA really... of which I am not one of them. <.< >.>

My take on Int. Legislation.

Personally I say we use the WA as a baseline here. Now there's quite a few resolutions that deal with non wa members. It has been a while, but the take usually seems to be that the closer the non WA nation is to basically broadly following WA laws, the easier it is for WA nations to trade etc. With them.

If we are using WA as a baseline, that'd indicate that non WA nations that broadly follow WA legislation would be more likely to have more soft power among WA nations and better relations and trade.

The way to counter the inherant disadvantage WA and non WA but also broadly following the rules nations would probably be in the form of nations not following int. Legislation on war etc suffering through lack of trade.

It doesn't matter what your nation is, on some level you need to trade with other nations. Canonicaly speaking Caracasus trades mostly with other socialist nations, however we also have the Hypothetical Zone which purely exists to facillitate trade with nations following radically different economic models.

I sont agree to using the WA as a baseline. Thats too restricting, arbitrary, and a lot to read which would make this RP more complicated for new rpers than it needs to be.

I suggest instead we reference it in our posts.

I would be very much in favour of mentioning the WA and referencing existing resolutions in the thread. Kenmoria canonically follows almost all resolutions, excepting a few about business, through a series of creative interpretations I’ve worked on in the GA forums. It would add a layer of depth and mean that a lot of the human rights things mentioned in the IC would have basis.

Hopefully this weekend I'll be writing some RP docs relating to some Rivienland volunteers joining the fight for Kolvce, but, to be prepared, I reread the IC thread to get more details on the situation in Western Posteastan. I decided I'll post this summary below to help others out, but correct me if I get some details wrong!


The Situation in Western Posteastan

First, the Patriotic Liberation Front, from what I understand, is an uneasy alliance between the Nationalists, Stateists, and Royalists. For a time, this allowed for semi-peace, and for these military forces to focus on expanding into Kolvce. Recently though, Tavitian has offered a ceasefire to Kolvce. Otherwise, Kolvce is: facing a dangerous flu epedemic, has lost a third of its land to the Nationalists, and is generally lacking food and coal.

Now, below I will list the actually resources each faction has based on IC events. As some have still reasoned, even though Karevka has left the conflict, and destroyed most of their aid for the Stateists, some equipment still fell into their hands.



Support/Aid

Stateists
Karevka: Food, ammo, maps, anti-air tech, helicopters (I think there were all taken back?), napalm, and (possibly) some salvaged tanks
UASR: 2 million Syndicate Yen
Schwarzenfels: Air-defense units

Nationalists
Karevka: Food and ammo
Schwarzenfels: Ammo, guns, fuel, light armored vehicles, air-defense units, and missile artillery

Royalists
Great Nortend: Training the Leozina Watch Militia, and aid (medicine, food, etc.) from the Posteastan Alms Society
Lux Pulchrae: 500 soldiers, ammo, training, and APCs

Kolvce
Cat-Herders United: Volunteer Legion for the Liberty of Kolvce, 3 Spähpanzer Luchs, 2 AW-159 “Wildcat” reconnaissance helicopters, RPGs, grenades, ammo, mortars, and 20 million NSD (I believe they accepted the full offer)

Hope this helps!

Brilliant! Thanks a lot.

So, uhh..OP, can I meet the ones which have chosen to come to my capital to plead their case?

The World Capitalist Confederation wrote:So, uhh..OP, can I meet the ones which have chosen to come to my capital to plead their case?

WHAT? NO! Are you insane? Do you know how much writing that is! Go away!
I mean, yeah. Sure I did not get it that this already was the invitation. I thought this was going to be prepared. So you invite ALL groups? Syndicate? Renegades? Volunteer Legion? Jomsvikinar and so on? Plus all outside groups

>tha flag change.

Oh no.

Lux Pulchrae wrote:>tha flag change.

Oh no.

What, what flag cha-

>delete cache

OH NO

I'll be calling a meeting of involved Forestian military commands. Any preference as to the forms of address, named commanders etc?

1. I'm not sure if Allanea was cooperating with the Stateists, but if it was, it no longer is.
2. I'm not sure what if anything remains intact of the Syndicate's military infrastructure.

There are no death camps. Reee. >:^( we ain’t nazis you fools.

Also how are these elections a thing? There’re still faction vying for control of Posteastan. A split of two or three ‘official’ governments but who’s enforcing them? Tavitian held elections and there was a ‘massive turnout’ but how many?

So the New Moralist Party that surrendered and sued for peace to the RDSU, who're the Moralists that surrendered to the Royalist?

And this Metropolitan of Leoniza?

Sorry for the questions, a lot involving the royalists and a lot the royalists are doing without our administrators consulted.

Posteastan wrote:

The World Capitalist Confederation wrote:So, uhh..OP, can I meet the ones which have chosen to come to my capital to plead their case?

WHAT? NO! Are you insane? Do you know how much writing that is! Go away!
I mean, yeah. Sure I did not get it that this already was the invitation. I thought this was going to be prepared. So you invite ALL groups? Syndicate? Renegades? Volunteer Legion? Jomsvikinar and so on? Plus all outside groups

Yes. I'll set the scene now and you can respond when you have time. You can write as much or as little for the groups as you can. If I'm unsatisfied with all the groups, well, let's just say that I'll recruit someone, perhaps a high-ranking general within the government/renegades/royalists to seize power as a dictator, making things even harder for the other groups.

Kjalåra would you terribly mind if I torpedoed the next vessel of yours daring to come through the blockade again? We should ideally settle this game of brinkmanship in OOC before the torpedoes and missiles actually start flying... <.<

So Caracasus doesn't have restaraunts as such. Most of the named Caracasusians you meet in this RP are ones that are much more used to dealing with other nations, and Villi island isn't a tourist hotspot where such things might be better understood and even sort of replicated. If you go off track in Caracasus you might come across similar cultural gulfs.

Caracasus wrote:I'll be calling a meeting of involved Forestian military commands. Any preference as to the forms of address, named commanders etc?

Uan aa Boa's military is the responsibility of Central Committee member Joshua Okangane, a grizzled veteran of the civil war who misses the old certainties and likes to pass the time in meetings wondering who else present knows what it feels like to cut a man's throat. He hasn't adapted well to the new era of subtle international diplomacy and frequently wrangles with Adeema Pula.

I think Forest and others should be discussing the options of recognising the two proto-governments now demanding recognition. It would make for more interaction between other players and the back story in Posteastan (as the OP has been requesting). I probably won't manage an IC post today, however.

I really love the restaurant misunderstanding, great stuff. Construction Enterprises may have made a similar misplaced assumption issuing an invitation to Boani newspapers, but Party publication The Rifle, Hoe and Sun is happy to accept.

I liked the restaurant part too, like a communist Three Stooges bit. But there are some inaccuracies, that I’ll go along with, as this was all a big misunderstanding:

1) In Lux Pulchrae, you wouldn’t be given money, you’d earn it when your job was complete, and even then the customers wouldn’t pay you, your employer would. And the money wouldn’t go to individuals but the establishment. But you probably already knew that. And they’re in a commune so again, one big misunderstanding between two parties.

2)Uniforms aren’t a ‘reminder to always be at war’ as the young woman thinks. Well, they are quite literally in a wartorn country, so yeah he’s gonna wear them. Gentile as an official never wears one, only formal work clothes. D’Umbra as a commander needs to wear his to remind himself of his position and role in the whole matter.

3)is the young woman comparing capitalism to war and violence?

Sorry if it seems nit picky or petty, but it’s just to clear things up and remain on the same page.

Lux Pulchrae wrote:I liked the restaurant part too, like a communist Three Stooges bit. But there are some inaccuracies, that I’ll go along with, as this was all a big misunderstanding:

1) In Lux Pulchrae, you wouldn’t be given money, you’d earn it when your job was complete, and even then the customers wouldn’t pay you, your employer would. And the money wouldn’t go to individuals but the establishment. But you probably already knew that. And they’re in a commune so again, one big misunderstanding between two parties.

2)Uniforms aren’t a ‘reminder to always be at war’ as the young woman thinks. Well, they are quite literally in a wartorn country, so yeah he’s gonna wear them. Gentile as an official never wears one, only formal work clothes. D’Umbra as a commander needs to wear his to remind himself of his position and role in the whole matter.

3)is the young woman comparing capitalism to war and violence?

Sorry if it seems nit picky or petty, but it’s just to clear things up and remain on the same page.

Oh yeah fair enough. Okay.

1. My bad, perhaps we could chalk this up to the person in question being vaguely aware that other cultures tip differently and misinterpreting the Caracasusian's bemusement as waiting for a tip?

2. Uniform in this instance would be encompass both military uniforms, restrictive dress codes and so on. From most Caracasusian's point of view your factions of your country exist in a perpetual state of war. Namely class conflict.

3. Broadly speaking, sort of?

"A temporary building was constructed to house the event, made of certified steel and concrete. It would be a nightmare for the forcibly-contracted workers to take down, now that the Syndicate had been abandoned, but would serve well against any foreign aggression or possibly Royalist advances."

I'm derping a bit here.

How does the fact that the Syndicate has been abandoned by CE make the building harder to take down?

Allanea wrote:

"A temporary building was constructed to house the event, made of certified steel and concrete. It would be a nightmare for the forcibly-contracted workers to take down, now that the Syndicate had been abandoned, but would serve well against any foreign aggression or possibly Royalist advances."

I'm derping a bit here.

How does the fact that the Syndicate has been abandoned by CE make the building harder to take down?

CE can’t use as many enslaved workers now they don’t have a relationship with the Syndicate, which had a large number of people already controlled by them.

Caracasus wrote:
Oh yeah fair enough. Okay.

1. My bad, perhaps we could chalk this up to the person in question being vaguely aware that other cultures tip differently and misinterpreting the Caracasusian's bemusement as waiting for a tip?

2. Uniform in this instance would be encompass both military uniforms, restrictive dress codes and so on. From most Caracasusian's point of view your factions of your country exist in a perpetual state of war. Namely class conflict.

3. Broadly speaking, sort of?

1) I guess, I’ll just roll with you here.

2) Duty is restrictive in communism?
2b) The wartorn country is Posteastan. If I’m reading yours right and I’m probably not, my nation isn’t exactly in a perpetual state of war, outwardly at least. Internally there are some class issues, as society isn’t horizontal nor should it be. Like everything, there is a certain order and hierarchy. Church hierarchy, social hierarchy, military hierarchy, family heirarchy, and a heirarchy of duties.

Lux Pulchraen view of is pretty basic all throughout: God/Church>King>Country>Society>Family>Self. King>Higher Nobles>Lower Nobles>Commomer. Father>Mother>Children. Yeah this info is irrelevant but you gave insight to yours.

3) depends on the economic policies. Stalinist USSR was pretty violent. But that’s not you I’d assume.

Caracasus wrote:I'll be calling a meeting of involved Forestian military commands. Any preference as to the forms of address, named commanders etc?

Not technically part of Forest. Commander Dursun Dektash is the man responsible for the Balagani naval forces in Forest. I think you know his abilities and limits very well. He is somewhat of a leading world authority when it comes to naval blockades. He has the Cardulan Distinguished Naval Cross and Caracasus' own Order of the Elephant. He is fluent in the languages of Caracasus by now (with a slight Orisio accent) but still what's called a controversial person. Last year he participated in the wreath laying for the 'victims of the Krathos soviet' and the commemoration for the 'Krathos Soviet Martyrs' which got him a mentioning in the 'Elephant' but not a long one. He is by all means more a dove than a hawk and willing to take a few hits or hold his fire in an unclear situation to save civilians. The lesson learned from the G.O.P.C. have totally changed his attitude towards massive deterrence. He is a specialist in joint operations with Caracasus and has cultivated an elaborated gambling habit in Parsoh. It would not hurt to consult him.

Awww... that was so rude!

Seriously though Lux, how good is your diplomat and colonel at cooking, cleaning, washing and hiking?

My thoughts on a Forest and friends military meeting would be essentially planning for all eventualities, including potential use of small peacekeeping forces if and when that is needed.